Dear Members and Friends,

Looking out at the crowd of women at the Opening Reception, I don't know what delighted me more: recognizing so many returning members or seeing the many guests that members brought to this event. Women conversed, listened to what Impact100 has accomplished in just three years, and learned about the impact our grant has already had upon the 2011 project grantee, WePAC. To cap it off, a record number of renewing and new members joined that evening.

 

But the Opening Reception was just that - the beginning of the new membership year. To spread the word, members from Ambler to Wynnewood have generously opened their homes to host information sessions. Check out Save the Dates (left) and please email me to invite prospective members to these events.

 

Our members have said they want to understand how tough economic times are affecting residents in and around Philadelphia. At the 11/17 Educational Program, veteran journalist and Pew analyst Larry Eichel will speak about "The State of the City." This program is a chance to bring friends who will not only hear about Philadelphia's challenges, but will also learn

Wendy at the 2011 Annual Meeting

how Impact grants help solve community problems. 

 

Thank you to the new and renewing members who have already joined. We are also grateful to the many members who wrote a larger check to provide operating support. To join today, please see our website.  

Wendy Peck
Membership Chair    

Last Tuesday evening, a crowd gathered at Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia to learn more about Impact100 and to hear a moving presentation by last year's project grantee, the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children.  (See below for WePAC's update.)   

  

Many members brought friends who wanted to learn more about Impact.  Co-president Ellan Bernstein told guests, "We hope you'll decide to join this dedicated and bright group of women so that we can all make an impact on the Philadelphia nonprofit community." 

 

Co-president Charlotte Schutzman added, "I think you'll find that Impact100 is a wonderful organization to be a part of.  We hope to engage women in philanthropy in a deeper way than many have been involved before."

  

The co-presidents stressed that membership is a one-year commitment, and each woman can be as involved as she likes.  The $1,000 membership donation is fully tax-deductible and 100% goes to the grants.  They added that since Impact has no paid staff, all operating activities are performed by the board and other volunteers, and funded by additional donations from members and friends.   

  

Schutzman closed by telling the audience, "The key to increasing Impact100's success is you...  Increasing funding to local nonprofits depends on the efforts of all of us to reach out to our friends and our colleagues and have them join us in the experience of collective giving and the experience of Impact100."

  

Cheryl Haze and Peggy Shaver

 

Gathering at the start of the reception

Listening to WePAC's presentation

Carrie Brodsky (center) with new members Nancy Bradberry (left) and Anita Allen

WePAC Board President Lauren Dodington and Executive Director Dave Florig

At the reception on October 4, West Philadelphia Alliance for Children, or WePAC, gave an update on the $100,000 project grant awarded in June 2011. Executive Director David Florig spoke about the Open Books Open Minds library initiative and the effect of the grant.

  

"WePAC opens closed public school libraries," Florig began. "You may be surprised to know that almost no public elementary school in Philadelphia, particularly in West Philadelphia, has an open library.  Many have the space, many have the books, but they don't have anybody to run them.  That has been a trend for 25 years - the elimination of libraries - that was exacerbated this past year, with the budget situation in Philadelphia." 

Florig described what happened after receiving the Impact grant:  Summer meetings with 16 principals at 16 new schools, and WePAC's selection of five new libraries to open in September and October.  The last of these, William Longstreth School, was to be opened October 5, the day after the Impact reception.  Florig said Longstreth School's library space had been renovated ten years ago and was beautiful, but had never been used. "There were maybe 100 books there," he said. "We have donated several thousand, shelved them and catalogued them and gotten them ready, and tomorrow morning students will be coming through and enjoying the benefits of a library in their school."

  

During the 15-month Impact grant period, WePAC's stated goals were to serve 5,000 students in 10 to 12 schools.  Florig said that with the opening of Longstreth's library the next day, those goals would be met. "I know you have high expectations of WePAC," he said, "but you cannot possibly have higher expectations than we have for ourselves.  We will exceed what we told you we would do."

  

"Nothing has changed WePAC more than this grant," Florig said. "It put the issue of school libraries being closed on the map.  We were in a whole bunch of periodicals, on television, on the news... That has enabled us to gain visibility, gain credibility, attract more volunteers, attract additional funding.  It has probably been the most significant event that ever happened to us."    

  

Florig spoke to the individual women in the room, saying, "$1,000 at a time, when pooled, and when joined together with a small, innovative nonprofit that is able to make things happen very quickly, it is a game-changer."  Florig said that the Impact100 grant process "makes small organizations really think about the great things they can accomplish."   

 

Some Impact members have already joined WePAC's ranks, but the organization always needs more volunteers to read to children, staff libraries, and catalog books. If you would like to explore this volunteer opportunity, please email Dave Florig at dave@wepac.org.     

Dave Florig speaking with new member Susan Levin after his remarks

 

Coming next month:   

Update on 2011 operating grantees 

 

   

Speaker:

Larry Eichel, director of the Philadelphia Research Initiative at The Pew Charitable Trusts.  The Research Initiative was formed in 2008 to study critical issues facing Philadelphia.  Eichel is a former Philadelphia Inquirer reporter and editor. 

 

 

Subject:

Since 2008, Eichel has overseen the research and writing of annual "State of the City" reports.   He will speak to Impact members and guests about current findings, covering a range of demographic trends and challenges facing the region.   

 

Place and Time:

Thursday, November 17, 7 to 9 pm. Main Line Reform Temple, Wynnewood, PA.

 

  

Watch for an invitation coming soon.